Mining machine dust collector

ABSTRACT

A mining machine having a boom enclosed dust collector assembly for use in a coal mining operation wherein the dusty air from a mining operation is gathered directly from said operation, collected in the mining machine boom, selectively wetted and separated by centrifugal processing into a coal slurry for disposal and clean air for exhaust.

United States Patent [191 David [451 May 14, 1974 1 MINING MACHINE DUSTCOLLECTOR [76] Inventor: Joseph S. David, 320 Pinavak Dr.,

Franklin, Pa. 16323 221 Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 289,833

[52] US. Cl 299/64, 299/12, 299/18 [51] Int. Cl. E2lc 35/22 [58] Fieldof Search 299/12, 18, 64-68,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,712,678 1/1973 Amoroso299/12 X 3,387,889 6/1968 Ziemba et a1 299/12 Primary ExaminerErnest R.Purser Attorney, Agent, or FirmE. Wallace Breisch [57] ABSTRACT A miningmachine having a boom enclosed dust collector assembly for use in a coalmining operation wherein the dusty air from a mining operation isgathered directly from said operation, collected in the mining machineboom, selectively wetted and separated by centrifuga] processing into acoal slurry for disposal and clean air for exhaust.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED-mmen v 1810.877

SHEETI ur'vv PAINTED-MY 14 m4 sum 5 (IF 7 1 MINING MACHINE DUSTCOLLECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous methods have beensuggested and employed to suppress or at least reduce the amount of coaldust in the air in the vicinity of a coal mining operation, the majorityof which involve bulky and expensive elements such as brattices, tubing,intake fans. and exhaust fans separate from the machine. Presentlyemployed dust removal means usually results in deposit of the collecteddust at some secondary point where it may still be a problem. Othermethods have involved dust collectors and removal means added on thesides or top of present machines or trailed behind thereby requiringadditional space where space is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there isprovided a new and novel dust collector for use in a coal mining machinewherein a centrifugal air collector is located in a novel manner in acutter boom frame to draw a mixture of coal dust and air fromimmediately behind the cutting elements, spray the dust with liquid,centrifugally separate the dust from air and deliver a coal slurry underair pressure to the mining machine discharge with the remainingsubstantially cleansed air being exhausted from the machine.

Other provisions of this invention will be more apparent when taken inconjunction with the following more detailed description with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of one type of-a continuous mining machinewith the dust collector of this invention included in the boomstructure;

' FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the boom of a miningmachine showing the location of the dust collector of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary partially sectional plan view of oneembodiment of an impeller assembly;

FIG. 4 is a median sectional view of the impeller of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show respectively, a plan view and an elevational view ofone type of impeller housing;

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofa portion ofa mining machine boom showing inphantom the location of the FIG. 5 type of the dust collector of thisinvention and a plurality of exhaust ducts;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show respectively a plan view and an elevational sectionview of a second embodiment of the impeller assembly;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show respectively, a plan view and an elevational viewof'one type of impeller housing constructed according to the principlesof this invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a mining machine in a high cuttingposition with a cutter support boom 22 raised so that intake and exhaustlocations of the dust collector Il ofthis invention can be seen.Immediately behind the cutter drum 10, not visible in FIG. 1 but indicated by the reference numeral 11, is the location of a gas andparticulate matter separator which is a main part of the dust collectorll. Shown in FIG. 1 as part of the assembly of the dust collector II isa screened air intake 12 and intake ports 13 into which the dustaccumulation created by the cutter drum 10 is drawn in by an intake fan(described hereinafter) to wash the dusty'air and centrifugally separateit into a wet coal slurry to be discharged through ports 14, (see FIG.2) and a remaining cleansed air flow which is discharged through exhaustduct work 16 and guide ducts 18. Only one guide duct 18 is shown in FIG;1 but more than one is available as is indicated in the description oflater figures. A pair of side intakes 20 (only one of which is shown)takes in any air borne dust that escapes the intakes 12 and I3 andtravels to the sides of the machine. A top intake is also available asdescribed in connection with latter description of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, a series of directing arrows labeled with an I" forintake and E" for exhaust shows the air flow path of one embodiment ofthe dust collector as positioned in the cutter support boom 22 relativeto the cutter drum 10 wherein the dust is drawn in at the bottom throughthe intake 12 and intake ports 13, at the sides of vents 20 (shown inFIG. 1) and at the top by an intake slot 24. A centrifugal impeller orfan 26 comprising a rotary plate 28 and impeller blades completelyaround the-periphery (only a few shown in the drawings, see FIG. 3)provide the negative pressure or suction to draw the dusty air into thefan rotor section 29 of the separator with impeller blades 30 drivingthe collected dust into a rotor housing 32 having a spiral duct 34encircling the fan 26. Within the duct 34, the dusty air is washed andcentrifugally separated into substantially clean air to be exhaustedfrom the machine and liquid and solid particulates in the form of a wetcoal slurry which is passed to the usual machine conveyor 48 (seeFIG. 1) and discharged with the mined material in a manner described indetail hereinafter.

FIG. 2 also shows one embodiment of the positioning of the impellermotor 36 on a mounting bracket 38 wherein the motor 36 is connected bysuitable driving means such as a keyed shaft 37 directlyto the centerhub 39 of the fan 26 to rapidly rotate the impeller blades 30 of the fan26 within the housing 32. Aplurality of water jet nozzles 40 (two of.which are shown in FIG. 2) are located at spaced intervals around thehousing duct 34 (see FIG. 5) to spray the incoming dust and wet thewalls of a guide scroll arrangement 42 (described hereinafter) of thehousing 32 with a high velocity water jet which is then drained off witha dust slurry via a plurality of drain tubes 44 (only one of which isshown in FIG. 2) to drain ports 14 to be discharged downward to amachine conveyor 48 (FIG. 1) as explained hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown one embodiment of the impelleror fan rotor section 29. The portion shown in FIG. 3 indicates thespacing of the impeller blades 30 spaced around the periphery of rotorsection 29 and having a predetermined curvature so as to draw dust in aflow path indicated by arrows I and E in FIG. 4 when the fan 26 isrotated by the motor 36 shown in part in FIG. 4. The rotary plate 28 issecured by bolts 50 to the hub 39 to be rotated by the motor 36.

In this embodiment (FIGS. 2, 4) the motor 36 is shown directly below thehub 39, however, space requirements may require different locations withseparate drives as necessary.

' The fan 26 is positioned within a rotor housing 32 shown in detail inFIGS. 5 and 6. The fan 26 comprises the top plate 28 with hub 39, andbottom plate 51 (FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6) with impeller blades 30 suitablyrotatable within circular opening 52 in a housing top plate 54 andopening 55 in a bottom plate 56. The

guide scroll arrangement 42 includes a plurality of scroll plates 58,60, 62, 64 and 66 arranged around the outside of the rotor section toform a duct 34 spirally increasing the volume from an initial pointadjacent the path of the rotating impeller blades 30 so as to receivethe dusty air drawn in by the fan 26 and discharged into the spiral duct34. The discharge of the air into the spiral duct 34 is at a rapid ratesuch that dirt and coal particles are inertially separated from the airand forced against the walls of the scroll plates 58, 60, 62, 64 wherethe spiral configuration causes the solid particles to be collected in aplurality of particulate matter traps or drain pockets 68, 70, 72 and74. In addition to the centrifugal action of the swirling dust, aplurality of water jet nozzles 40 are spaced within the spiral duct 34to wet the swirling dust so as to assist in separating the solidparticles from the air and also wet the walls of the guide scrolls 58-66to collect particles thereon, to prevent bouncing or re-entrainment ofdust particles and wash them to the entrapping drain pockets 68-74 to bedrained off via tubes 44 (FIG. 2) to the machine conveyor 48.

The air remaining in the spiral duct 34 after being washed and cleanedby the nozzles 40 and the inertial action described, is guided to agating area in the duct 34 between scroll 64 and scroll 66 where amovable gate 76 is mounted on pivot pin 78. The gate 76 has a tighteningmeans (not shown) whereby the gate 76 can be placed and secured into oneof several selected positions until a different position is desiredunder different operating conditions. In FIGS. 5 and 7 the gate 76 isshown in dotted outline in two different positions R and L. With thegate 76 in the R position, the cleansed air is directed to the right (asviewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) out a right exhaust duct 80 which is connectedto the duct work 16 and a guide conduit means such as a flexible guideduct 18 (FIG. 1), to be directed where desired. With the gate 76 in theL position, the cleansed air is directed to the left (as viewed in FIG.5) out a left exhaust duct 84 which is connected by suitable duct work16 to a flexible tube (not shown) similar to guide duct 18 of FIG. 1 tobe directed where desired. If it is desired to exhaust the cleansed airout both the right exhaust duct 80 and the left exhaust duct 84, thegate 76 is suitably positioned intermediate the L and R positions suchthat the cleansed air is divided and selectively proportioned to the twoexhaust ducts according to the positioning of the gate 76.

The relative location of the dust collector ll in the machine boom 22 isshown in FIG. 7 with the duct work 16 including the two exhaust ducts 80and 84.

It should be noted that although the exhaust duct work 16 is shown inthe drawings is directed toward the rear of the machine boom 22, withguide ducts 18 (FIG. 1) leading to the rear of the mining machine, it isnot limited to such direction. The guide ducts 18 being flexible can bedirected in any direction, and the duct work 16 can be constructed todirect the exhausting air in any direction desired. Accordingly, otherembodiments of the present dust collector may be utilized wherein theduct work 16 may be directed in selected different directions.

Still another arrangement is shown in the fan and motor assembly 90including the rotary element 28' of FIGS. 8 and 9 and the rotor housing94 of FIGS. and 11. In FIGS. 8 and 9 the rotary element 28' is ofdifferent shape than that of FIGS. 3 and 4 with an upwardly opencup-shaped center portion such that the motor 36 may be mounted on abracket 38' above the rotary element 28' to meet different spacerequirements.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a variation ofthe rotor housingwherein mountingbosses 95 for the jet nozzles 40 are located on the sides of the scrollplates instead of in the spaces defined by the spiral duct 34 therebyproviding different access thereto to meet different space requirements.For example, the housing 94 can be mounted in cutter support boom 22 tobe rotatably adjustable therein and with suitable changes in the boomduct work and a housing outlet opening as at 96 matable with left handexhaust duct 84 or right hand exhaust duct (see FIG. 7) asdesired byrotation of the housing 94 about point A on the vertical axis A-A of thefan 26 (see FIG. 11). This rotation has the advantage of providingeither right hand or left hand air flow without the use of a gateelement such as gate 76 thus allowing more aerodynamically perfect airflow.

It is also intended to make the duct work 16 adaptable' so that exhaustair could be directed forwardly into either or both corners of themining face to provide diffusion air to more thoroughly clear outpockets of gas collecting in these corners.

When diffusing action is required the intake of air can be throughopenings in the top of the boom connected rearwardly of the miner byducting to provide clean air for better diffusion by using the apparatusof this invention.

Summarizing the above description of the various figures of thedrawings, it can be seen that the accumulated dust caused by theoperating cutter drum is taken in the various intake passages and ductsby the fan 26. The fan imparts an outward motion to the dust to causeinertial separation of dust particles and air while simultaneouslywashing the dust and collecting dirt particles to be separatelydischarged as a particle slurry and cleansed air as desired.

Although I have shown and secribed only a few embodiments of the presentinvention, different embodiments may be comprised of variations in theduct work locations, operation of the fan to act as a ventilation means,variations in the shapes and drives of the impeller means etc. withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intendedthat all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A mining machine having a cutter supporting boom which includes alower surface thereof overlying at least a forward portion ofa gatheringhead conveyor comprising: a hollow within said boom; a centrifugal gasand particulate matter separator assembly mounted within said hollow; atleast one gas inlet means communicating between said assembly and theexterior of said boom adjacent said surface; at least one gas exhaustmeans communicating between said assembly and the exterior of said boom;at least one particulate matter trap within said hollow; and at leastone particulate outlet means communicating between said trap and theexterior of said boom adjacent said surface.

2. The mining machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said separatorassembly comprises a housing mounted in said boom.

3. The mining machine as specified in claim 2 wherein said separatorassembly further comprises a centrifugal impeller rotatably mountedwithin said housing.

4. The mining machine as specified in claim 3 wherein said trap is aplurality of said traps spaced along an interior peripheral portion ofsaid housing.

5. The mining-machine as specified in claim 4 having a similarlycommunicating particulate outlet means for each of said traps.

6. The mining machine as specified in claim 5 having spray means mountedwithin said housing.

7. The mining machine as specified in claim 2 wherein said housing hasat least one outlet means and said boom has at least two gas exhaustmeans with reforaslurry.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Cl ZRTIFICA'IE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,Dated May 14, 1974 Inventor(s) Joseph S .David It is certified thaterror app'earsin the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1. Amining machine having a cutter supporting boom which includes alower exterior surface thereof overlying at least a forward portion of agathering head conveyor comprising: said boom having a compartmenttherewithin; a centrifugal gas and particulate matter separator assemblymounted within said compartment; at least one gas inlet means to saidassembly extending through saidsurface; at least one gas exhaust meanscommunicating between said assembly and the exterior of said boom; atleast one particulate matter trap within said compartment; and at leastone particulate outlet means to said trap extending through saidsurface.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

' McCOY M. GIBSON JR.' c; MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC OO376-P69 t 0.5. GOVEINIIINT Imu'rmo orncz: I9!o-ais-su FORM PO-105O (10-69)

1. A mining machine having a cutter supporting boom which includes alower surface thereof overlying at least a forward portion of agathering head conveyor comprising: a hollow within said boom; acentrifugal gas and particulate matter separator assembly mounted withinsaid hollow; at least one gas inlet means communicating between saidassembly and the exterior of said boom adjacent said surface; at leastone gas exhaust means communicating between said assembly and theexterior of said boom; at least one particulate matter trap within saidhollow; and at least one particulate outlet means communicating betweensaid trap and the exterior of said boom adjacent said surface.
 2. Themining machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said separator assemblycomprises a housing mounted in said boom.
 3. The mining machine asspecified in claim 2 wherein said separator assembly further comprises acentrifugal impeller rotatably mounted within said housing.
 4. Themining machine as specified in claim 3 wherein said trap is a pluralityof said traps spaced along an interior peripheral portion of saidhousing.
 5. The mining machine as specified in claim 4 having asimilarly communicating particulate outlet means for each of said traps.6. The mining machine as specified in claim 5 having spray means mountedwithin said housing.
 7. The mining machine as specified in claim 2wherein said housing has at least one outlet means and said boom has atleast two gas exhaust means with respective duct work.
 8. The miningmachine as specified in claim 7 wherein said housing is mounted forrotational adjustment within said boom to bring said housing outletmeans into communication with a selected one of said exhaust openings.9. The mining machine as specified in claim 2 wherein said gas exhaustmeans is directed forwardly with respect to said boom.
 10. The minimgmachine as specified in claim 6 wherein said particulate outlet means isa gravity drain for a slurry.